Quick Review of Dol Ho Restaurant (808 Pacific)

Dol Ho Restaurant is at 808 Pacific, slightly out of the hustle and bustle of Stockton. It is a dimsum place, with a few tables, and you can also order the dimsum to go. Keep in mind this place is only open from 0930 to 1530, and they are not open on Wednesdays, so visiting it can be a bit hard.

Dol Ho, with minimal decorations, can be considered a local "hole in the wall", as most tourists wouldn't wander up to it. However, Dol Ho is well known to locals for good dimsum. Sorry, no carts, too small for that. I and my friend ordered beef meatballs 牛肉丸 and "tied chicken" 雞扎 (chicken, mushroom, pork, with a some vermicelli wrapped around it as if tied together, steamed), which turned out to be $4.50 each. I ordered a set for him and a set for myself. It was brought over and packed within a minute.

The meatballs are excellent. While beef, this is not the meatball you're used to. The meat doesn't want to come apart, and you have to actively use your utensils to split a piece off as the whole ball is too big to eat in one gulp, and there are three of them in a serving. The meat is nicely flavorful (and a dash of Worcestershire sauce or A-1 steak sauce is optional). it's not greasy, yet there's no tofu to pad the bottom to prevent sticking. The "tied chicken" is very artful, a bit like sushi, but it's definitely steamed. You almost feel sorry to break it apart and consume it, as it falls apart as you fork it, and you admire the workmanship on how it stayed together when they transfer the vessels or during the steaming process. They are a bit expensive compared House of Dimsum and selection is only about 20 items, but they are good.

3.5/5

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